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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Wheels & Tires => Topic started by: yellow76 on June 24, 2007, 12:19:30 am

Title: Wide Rims and front wheel bearings.
Post by: yellow76 on June 24, 2007, 12:19:30 am

Age old question. Does running wide rims (10") on the front affect the wear rate and or damage the wheel bearings on a truck?
I know on older Chevys cars I was always told to "Not run a wide rim on the front as it will eat up your wheel bearings".

Truck is a 76 2WD C-10, Rims are American racing with 295-50-15 Toyo Proxes ST
Wheel bearings are by Timken. These would be the light duty rotors. 1"

Any input would be helpful. Thanks.

Title: Re: Wide Rims and front wheel bearings.
Post by: GMCTed on June 24, 2007, 07:06:54 am

if you have wheels with an offset close to the stock offset you shouldn`t have a problem.

when the wheels have a negative offset that makes them stick out of the wheel wells thats when you start eating bearings.

The offset of a wheel is the distance from its hub mounting surface to the centerline of the wheel. The offset can be one of three types.

Zero Offset

The hub mounting surface is even with the centerline of the wheel.

Positive

The hub mounting surface is toward the front or wheel side of the wheel. Positive offset wheels are generally found on front wheel drive cars and newer rear drive cars.

Negative

The hub mounting surface is toward the back or brake side of the wheels centerline. "Deep dish" wheels are typically a negative offset.

Title: Re: Wide Rims and front wheel bearings.
Post by: SUX2BU99 on September 11, 2007, 02:04:58 pm

And then there is the old term of 'reversed' rims, which have the most negative offset, and deepest dish possible. The mounting surface is basically flush with the back of the rim. I have 15" Convo-Pros on the back of my truck that are like that. I dig it.

Title: Re: Wide Rims and front wheel bearings.
Post by: 87GMC2WD on September 11, 2007, 06:40:44 pm

what if the tires come out even with the wheel well. ive got eagle alloy 118series with 275/60/r15

Title: Re: Wide Rims and front wheel bearings.
Post by: yellow76 on September 11, 2007, 10:59:33 pm

yeah I know that feeling well.
The answer is that you have to make sure that the suspension will NOT allow the tires to contact the fender. If they do it will get real ugly quick.
I am running 10 inch wide American racing rims and 295-50-15 Toyo Proxes ST's all the way around.

Note: since I first posted this I have put some hard miles on this toy doing some serious corner burning.
This thing feels like its on rails. Not a peep out of the tires at speeds I thought I was gonna have the rear end come around on me.
So far no issues with wheel bearings. I did put new Timken bearings/ races in just to make sure.

Title: Re: Wide Rims and front wheel bearings.
Post by: okuma on October 06, 2007, 10:18:34 am

i have ran 15x10 with the same tire size- 295-50-15 for 4 1/2  to  5 years on my other chevy with out any issues....... you will be fine!

Title: Re: Wide Rims and front wheel bearings.
Post by: speedy on October 28, 2007, 12:53:25 pm

Seems like nearly everyone is running 15" rims.  How do 17"s look?  Is there an issue?

Title: Re: Wide Rims and front wheel bearings.
Post by: Timber on October 28, 2007, 06:58:45 pm

They look great, especially something like 17x8 American Racing Torq Thrust II's.  But the wheels cost more and the tires cost more.  If you run 15" wheels you can get new wheels and new BFG's easily for under a grand.  If you go 17's you'll likely spend a grand on the wheels alone.  YMMV, HTH.

Title: Re: Wide Rims and front wheel bearings.
Post by: Captkaos on October 29, 2007, 10:30:57 am

I was running 17" Impala SS wheels on my truck, before I tore it down.
Several friends are running up to 22's.